“I go with who is playing well,” Narron said. “I go with who I believe in.”

Maybe he should start looking at the numbers. The Texas manager brought in lefty Juan Alvarez to start the seventh in what was a 2-2 game at the Stadium yesterday. Soon after, Jason Giambi did what he nearly always does against Alvarez. He hit a home run.

“I didn’t know that,” Narron said when he was told that Giambi’s game-winning shot made the slugger 3-for-3 with three home runs against Alvarez. The lone exception came on Friday, when Alvarez walked him.

“That doesn’t seem right. I can’t believe it.”

Believe it or not, it’s true. And Alvarez was aware of it.

“Yeah, I knew,” said Alvarez, who surrendered the game-winner in the Yankees’ 3-2 win. “And I tried not to let it happen again. But it did.”

Giambi worked the count to 2-2 and fouled off one of Alvarez’ better offerings before belting one into the right-field bleachers.

“I just left the ball over the plate,” Alvarez said. “You can’t do that against him. He’s one of the best hitters in the game, if not the best, especially against me.”

Narron stood by his decision, saying that he wanted to use Alvarez for several batters and that his only other southpaw in the bullpen is Rich Rodriguez, who is normally brought in only to face one batter.

“Giambi could have done that against anyone,” Narron said. “He looks very hitterish right now.”

He always seems that way against Alvarez.

“I just tried to make my pitches,” Alvarez said. “Sometimes you win with them and sometimes you don’t. It’s just that against me, he’s won them all.”

Alvarez laughed after he said this and insisted he wouldn’t let the disturbing trend get to him.

“When you’re out in the bullpen, you have to be ready to face anyone at any time, in any crucial situation,” Alvarez said. “If you’re not, they’ll eat you alive. Especially this team and that guy.”